Tags: Russian spy plane over US, Russian spy plane, spy plane over US
Russian spy plane over US: Russian authorities accused of flying spy plane over US territory. Why was the spy plane commissioned? What could be so important as to warrant the spying of one nation by another, even as tense relations between the two super powers prevail?
Russian authorities have come under sharp criticism from officials in Estonia after the Russian spy plane over US incident. The plane was intercepted over the Baltic sea by NATO jets. The plane was picked up as it flew over the territory of Estonia.
Estonia summoned the Russian ambassador after the Russian spy plane over US was intercepted. The ambassador, however, claimed that the plane was only on a routine training course. He denied that the plane was indeed a spy plane.
The incident comes hot on the heels of Russia's blatant disregard of borders in the region, amid accusations of supporting rebels in the Ukrainian region. This support led to sanctions by NATO over Russia and Russia retaliated by issuing a ban on food imports from the EU.
Just last month, Estonia accused Russia of abducting one of its security agents who was patrolling the Estonian border. Russia denied the allegations.
The Russian plane over the US had taken off from the Russian Baltic coast on Tuesday. The plane was first intercepted by Danish F-16 jets as it moved towards Denmark. The plane then flew north to Sweden.
The Swedish authorities intercepted the Russian spy plane. It then flew to Estonia and was in their air space for a minute. The plane was escorted out of the Estonian air space by Portuguese F-16s from Lithuania.
The Russian spy plane over US territory is the most serious violation by Russia of NATO's territory since the cold war era. The plane flew 500m over Estionian territory unauthorized, close to the large inhabited Islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa.
